How do you deal with people who have bad breath?
By agonyaunt69
@agonyaunt69 (343)
Hong Kong
December 9, 2009 3:45am CST
People like eating garlic, onion, spring onion or spicy things, or people who smoke or like drinking coffee, or with a unhealthy digestive system, usually have a bad breath.
When they are talking to you closely, would you cover your nose? I do not cover my nose as it seems not so polite. However, I would hold my breath if it is just a short conversation. If it is a long one, I will simply use my month to breathe as much as possible rather than my nose, just try not to smell it. I can't express my feeling especially when those people are my best friends, colleagues or customers.
It is always so strange that those people cannot smell their bad breath but only others. I trust if they can smell it, they will not let it there all the time. They will try different method to get rid of it.
How's your reaction when meeting people with bad breath? ha ha ha ha......
Have a nice day!
agonyaunt69
(5:45pm 9 December 2009, Hong Kong time)
1 person likes this
14 responses
@borg246 (539)
• Malta
9 Dec 09
To my relatives and family, I tell them to brush their teeth and talk to me later. But when talking formally to friends or to your Boss, I just simply try to ignore it as if I don't they can have a bad impression on me. Therefore, by being polite I try my hardest not to say anything to those types of people. People are different though.
For example, one time my when I was talking with my friend, he really had bad breath but I did not tell him a word. The following week, as soon as I opened my mouth he stayed complaining of how bad my breath stinks, and went to start telling everyone about it. I really felt embarresses and pissd off at him.
I wish everyone, to those who don't, can be more polite to people who have bad breath.
@missweety (626)
• Latvia
9 Dec 09
Yes, I agree with you sometimes people don't understand that something can happen to them as well and a bad breath can have everyone.
If I smell if from my relatives, I tell it. If friends, I wouldn't say a word. And even colleagues.. I wouldn't say a word to them, like you said people are different. I am trying to be polite and I wish there is always someone you could tell you that your breath smells :) !!!
@advokatku (4033)
• Indonesia
9 Dec 09
dealing with people who have problems with bad breath indeed annoying but I also don't close my noses in long time. So, like it or not, I will notify uncomfortable conditions and asked him to eat candy or go away from me
@agonyaunt69 (343)
• Hong Kong
9 Dec 09
Hi advokatku,
A lovely answer! You are so frank! Keep it up! ha ha ha ha...... I think chewing gum is better than candy in that sense.
Have a nice day!
agonyaunt69
(6:00pm 9 Dec 2009, Hong Kong time)
@ellovire (409)
•
10 Dec 09
i often experience that and it was such an agony don't you think? like you, i do not cover my nose out of respect. i just hold my breath or ignore it. the conversation won't last for like the whole day anyways. but if i know our conversation will be that long (around half of a day maybe), what i usually do is i invite him to grab something to eat or drink as a break. then after we had our "snack", i will offer him mint candies. in a way his breath will smell a bit different, fresher hopefully. or if i have mint candies in an instant, i normally offer it.
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
10 Dec 09
I'd be afraid to mouth breathe. What if I swallow their stinky breath smell? :S
I will offer them some gum or candy the first time. If it happens again I will pull them to the side and nicely ask them to brush their danged teeth. How can they not know they smell like that. I can taste in my mouth if my breath isn't fresh and then I'm not going to go all up in peoples faces with it.
@DarkMarixx (331)
• Philippines
10 Dec 09
I won't cover my nose but I would hold my breath for a while as what you did and I'll give him/her a candy or gum to let him/her know that he/she had a bad breath without humiliating him.
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
9 Dec 09
hi agony!
It is an interesting question. It is difficult to face those people who have bad breath due to any reasons whatsoever. If looks really odd and uncomfortable to talk to those person who have bad breath. If I face any such situation, I try to keep an appropriate distance with the person, whom I'm talking and if possible I indirectly also convey to that person that s/he should do something about his/her bad breath, else people will run away from him/her........lol!
@missweety (626)
• Latvia
9 Dec 09
Hello!
I have come across to some of people whose breath don't smell nice...I try to step a little bet back so the smell is not so strong, I guess that they don't feel it...
If they would feel it then they would take at least a chewing gum...I didn't know that breath can smell from coffee as well. That's new for me...
Have a great day!!!
@benny128 (3615)
•
9 Dec 09
if someone has bad breath when am talking to them,
I would tell them and give them some chewing gum, as they prob ain't aware of it,
always to be honest than to just put up with it lol,
but thats me am far too honest sometimes but I think thats the best way to be.
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
9 Dec 09
Hi agonyaunt, my solution for this. Carry mint in your purse regularly. If it is a child who has bad breath, be honest and give him a mint. If it is a lady, offer a mint and take one yourself. If it is a gent, then if he is not your boss, ask him to fetch a few candies as the first person suggested.
@deespartan (126)
• India
9 Dec 09
baddd....breath...whaaaa
i hate bad breadth..cant even think of some one closer...
i always wonder if its a kind of a disease or something to be over cautious about bad breath..
i m clear of my priorities and always tell my close people that i m alllergic to bad breath..
and to add to it..i also cover up myself wen i come too close to people..
i also have the habit of covering my mouth when talking something to someone close..
cheerz.!
@redthaidevil (1047)
• Thailand
9 Dec 09
I tend to have bad breath too so I understand. As the way to deal with it, you just have to face it, it is very rude to tell that person to brush their teeth or do other things to lessen them. The best possible way is to whisper to their parents that your friend that has bad breath might be facing cavaties or maybe forgot to brush their teeth, just warn them politely.
@Godmother (476)
• Indonesia
9 Dec 09
I have some friends who has bad breath, and I think it's because they have tooth decay as I usually notice that their teeth are bad. But I just don't have the guts to tell them... I'm afraid they get offended. So I do what you do, I breathe through my mouth, so I won't use my nose and smell. But I always carry peppermint candies, and offer them some. They usually take them. It' just the same as bad body odour. These people smell themselves daily and their senses adjust to it, and never notice it anymore. Even their wives don't notice it anymore.
@alikarachi (79)
•
9 Dec 09
haha interesting topic!
well i basically try and bear with it. if it really gets annoying and if he or she is a best friend, i might make a careful polite joke about it. Otherwise, I have to change things up, meaning I can either stay or go.
